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HISTORICAL SKETCH 

OF THE 

Lower Dublin 
(or PENNEPEK) 

BAPTIST CHURCH, 

Philadelphia, Pa., 
With Notices of the Pastors, &c. 

BY 

Horatio Gates Jones, 

Of Philadelphia. 



MORRISANIA, N. Y. 
1869. 






T.HjS' EDITION OF THIS WORK NUMBERED 
ONLY ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY COP- 
IES.— 77. G. J. 



h' 






To THE 



VENERABLE AND REVEREND 

David Benedict, D. D., 

Of ' Pawtucket, Rhode Island, 

THE LABORIOUS AND SELF-SACRIFICING 
HISTORIAN OF THE BAPTISTS OF AMERICA, 

whole earlier writings were the (ludies of my youthful 
days, and whole friendlhip in later life is moft highly 
cherilhed, this brief fketch of the Oldeft Baptift Church 
in Pennyflvania, is refpedfully dedicated, in token of 
admiration for his many virtues and his great historical 
acquirement!;, 

By his friend, 

THE AUTHOR. 



PREFATORY NOTE. 

This brief historical Sketch of the Lower Dublin Baptist 
Church was prepared, several years since, at the special re- 
quest of the Church, by which I was furnished with their 
ancient records. It was designed, at the time, for publica- 
tion in the Minutes of the Philadelphia Baptist Association, 
and hence was more of a sketch than a history. When de- 
sired to edit the August number (1308) of The Histohioai. 
Maga7ine, by Mr. Henry B. Dawson, I availed myself of the 
opportunity thus presented to give to the public the sketch 
referred to, with considerable corrections and additions. I 
regret that want of time has prevented a fuller and more 
complete history of this venerable Church of God. 

For the Portrait of Dr. Samuel Jones, which accompa- 
nies this, I am indebted to the liberality of Mr. William P. 
Wilstach, of Philadelphia, who married a grand-daughter 
of Doctor Jones. H. G. J. 

Philadelphia, July, 1869. 



CONTENTS. 

Page. 

I. Sketch of the Church 1 

II. Biographical Sketches of the Pastors 18 

III. Licentiates 35 

IV. Ruling Elders 36 

V. Deacons 3T 

VI. Additions to the Church by Baptism and total 
membership in each year 38 



PENNEPEK CHURCH. 



I.— SKETCH OF THE CHUliCH. 

The religious Freedom which William Perm, 
the Founder of Pennsylvania, proclaimed as one 

of the organic Laws of his Colony, attracted, 
;il the very outset, from Great Britain and also 
from the Continent — chiefly from Germany — 
persons of every religious faith. They were as- 
sured, from the well-known character of that 
disinterested philanthropist, who had been im- 
prisoned for his adhesion to the doctrines of the 
Quakers, that they would find in his Colony 
protection from all persecution. Hence, we 
find Quakers and Church-men, Baptists and 
Presbyterians, and Roman Catholics, and even 
the strange ascetic Pietists of Germany, among 
the earliest settlers of Pennsylvania, and all liv- 
ing together in harmony. 

This same plan had been tested nearly half a 
century before, by Roger Williams, in his Colo- 
ny of Rhode Island, under far more disadvanta- 
geous circumstances, and where he had advocated 
the grand doctrine of " soul-liberty," at a time 
when such a principle was regarded as one of 
the worst forms of heresy, and the maintenance 
of which was one cause of his expulsion by the 
authorities of Massachusetts. 

Both Williams and Penn had been sorely per- 



secuted for conscience sake ; and both were, there- 
fore, the better able to appreciate the import- 
ance of allowing every one to think and act as 
he thought right in matters relating to religious 
concerns. Penn, at the beginning of his legisla- 
tion in Pennsylvania, had passed by the As- 
sembly, the "Great Law," the first Section of 
which had regard to religious matters; and, 
among other things, provided that no person 
then or thereafter living in the Province, shall 
"at anytime be compelled to frequent or main- 
"tain any religious worship, place, or ministry, 
"whatever, contrary to his or her mind, but shall 
" freely and fully enjoy his or her Christian lib- 
" crly in that respect, without any interruption 
"or reflection; and, if any person shall abuse 
"or deride any other for his or her different per- 
" suasion and practice, in matter of religion, 
"such shall be looked upon as a disturber of the 
"peace, and be punished accordingly."* 

It is creditable to both of these noble men 
— living at the time they did — when religious 
persecution seemed to be the very essence of or- 
thodoxy in most Churches, that although en- 
trusted, in the organization of their Colonies, 
with vast powers, they incorporated in their 
Charters the doctrine of Religious Freedom, and 
never permitted any of their fellow-colonists to 
suffer for their religious tenets. 

This principle, for which Williams, in New 
England, and Penn, in Great Britain and Penn- 
sylvania, contended so nobly, has at last become 
universal in this country, and one of its features 
is incorporated in the Constitution of the 
United States. 

Let the names of these men, who were once 

* Janney's Life of Penn, 811. 



3 



despised as heretics and fanatics, he written in 
letters of gold, for their noble advocacy of a 
doctrine which is now so dear to every citizen 
of our great Republic. 

The first Baptist clergyman in Pennsylvania 
of whom there is any account was the Rev. 
Thomas Dungan, who settled at a place called 
Cold Spring, between Bristol and Trenton, in 
Bucks County. The Rev. Morgan Edwards 
says,* '• Of this venerable father I can leani 
" no more than that he came from Rhode 
" Island about the year 1084 ; that he and his fa- 
" mily settled at Cold Spring, where he gathered 
" a Church, of which nothing remains [in 1770] 
"but a grave-yard and the names of the families 
"which belonged to it, viz, the Dun gam, Gard- 
u ners, Woods, Doyls, &c; that he died in 
" 1G88, and was buried in said grave-yard." 

This small Church disbanded in the year 1702 ; 
and its members either moved to other places 
or became connected with the Church whose 
history is now to be sketched. 

The Lower Dublin, or Pennepel; Baptist Church 
— the first permanent Church of that faith in 
Pennsylvania, is situate in what was formerly 
the Township of Lower Dublin, now forming 
part of the Twenty-third Ward of the City of 
Philadelphia, about eleven miles North-west- 
wardly from Independence Hall. At first it 
was called the Pemmepela,-\ Petmepek, or Pen- 
nypack Church, from a small stream of water 
bearing that name, which runs near the Meeting- 
house ; and it was so designated in the Min- 



* History of American Baptists, i, 10, Note. 

t This is an Indian word, and, according: to Heckewelder, 
in the languagr of the Lenni Lenape,or Delawares, signifies 
" A pond, lake or bay ; water not having a current." Bulle- 
tin Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Vol. i. No. ll,p. 122. 



utes of the Philadelphia Baptist Association, until 
the year 1794. 

This Church may be regarded as the mother 
Church of the Baptists in Pennsylvania, New 
Jersey, New York, Delaware and Maryland, as 
its early Pastors were accustomed to preach 
the Gospel in all of* these Colonies; and hence 
its early history is of more than ordinary inter- 
est. The Records have been carefully preserved, 
and are contained in a large folio volume, 
which is still used for the jmrposc of keeping 
the Minutes of the Church-meetings. The He- 
cords state that "By the good Providence of 
" God, there came certain persons out of Rad- 
" norshire in Wales, over into this Province of 
"Pennsylvania, and settled in the Township of 
" Dublin, in the County of Philadelphia, viz: 
" John Eatton, George Eatton and Jane, his 
" wife, Samuel Jones, and Sarah Eatton, who 
" had all been Baptized upon Confession 
"of Faith and Received into the Commun- 
"ion of the Church of Christ meeting in 
"the Parishes of Llandewi and Nanttnel, in 
" Radnorshire, Henry Gregory being Chief pas- 
•'tor. Also John Baker who had been Baptized 
" and a member of a congregation of Baptized 
"believers in Kilkenny, in Ireland, Christopher 
" Blackwell, pastor, was by the providence of 
" God settled in the Township aforesaid. 

"In the year 1(587 there came one Samuel 
" VaU8 out of England, and settled near the 
1 aforesaid Township and went under the De- 
" nomination of a Baptist and was so taken to 
" be." 

These parties were settled in Lower Dublin, as 
early as 1(587. The previous year, Elias Reach, 
a son of the famous London divine, the Rev. 
Benjamin Keach. an eminent author among the 



English Baptists, came to America. lie was a 
gay, wild, thoughtless young man ; and was con- 
verted in a most extraordinary manner. 

Morgan Edwards gives the following account 
of Mr. Keach: "On his landing he dressed in 
" black, and wore a band in order to pass for a 
" Minister. The project BUCCeeded to his wishes, 
" and many people resorted to hear the young 
" London divine. lie performed well enough 
"till lie had advanced pretty far in the sermon. 
" Then, stopping short, he looked like a man as- 
"tonished. The audience concluded he had 
"been seized with a sudden disorder; but, on 
'• asking what the matter was, received from him 
" a confession of the imposture with tears in his 
"eyes, and much trembling. Great was hisdis- 
" tress, though it ended happily; for from this 
" time he dated his conversion. He heard there 
" was a Baptist Minister at Cold Spring, in 
" Bucks County, to whom he repaired to seek 
"counsel and comfort, and by him was bap- 
tized."* 

Mr. Keach at once devoted himself to preach- 
ing the Gospel ; and, in 1(587, visited the region 
of Pennepek, and preached as opportunity of- 
fered. His labors were greatly blessed; and on 
the twenty-first of November, 1687, he baptized 
four persons, viz : Joseph Ashton and Jane 
Ashton, his wife, William Fisher, and John 
Watts. These, so far as is known, were the 
first persons ever baptized in Lower Dublin 
Township. 

In the month of January, 168£, the following 
persons organized themselves into the Pennepek 
Baptist Church, viz: Rev. Elias Keach, John 
Eaton, George Baton and Jane; his wife, Sarah 

* Edwards's History of American Baptists, i, 9-10. 



6 



Eaton, Samuel Jones, John Baker, Samuel 
Vaus, Joseph Ashton and Jane, his wife, Wil- 
liam Fisher, and John Watts. 

The church book gives the following account 
of its constitution : 

"Sometime after, about the ll lh month, 
"[January, I68l\ by the advice of Elias 
"Keach and with the aforesaid Baptized per- 
sons consent, a day was set apart to seek God 
"by fasting and prayer, in order to form our 
" selves into a Church state. Whereupon Elias 
" Keach was accepted and received for our Pas- 
" tor and we sat down in communion at the 
"Lord's table. Also at the same time Samuel 
" Vans was chosen and by Elias Keach with 
"laying on of hands, ordained to be a Dea- 
" con.*' 

Such was the founding of what may proper- 
ly be regarded as the first Baptist Church in 
Pennsylvania. There was no pomp or ceremo- 
ny ; there were no white-robed priests; no let- 
ters permissory from Archbishop or other prelate. 
There was only the plain apostolic giving of 
themselves to each other and the Lord. And 
the little band of disciples, thus organized as a 
Christian Church, has continued to prosper and 
increase, and for a period of one hundred and 
eighty-one years has maintained an active and 
visible existence. 

Mr. Keach, with that earnest zeal which char- 
acterized most of the early Baptist Ministers, 
travelled extensively and preached at the Falls 
of the Delaware, (Trenton), Philadelphia, Ches- 
ter, Burlington, Middletown, Cohansey, Salem 
and other places, baptizing such as gave evi- 
dence of true piety. These, with such other 
Baptists as he found among the new emigrants, 
joined the Pennepek Church, so that, at one 



time, all the Baptists of Pennsylvania and New 
Jersey, were regarded as general members of thia 
Church. 

For the convenience of the brethren residing 
in the places named, the Church appointed 
"General Meetings," so that opportunity was 
offered for closer acquaintance, communion, and 
fellowship. In regard to this practice, the Re- 
cords state, as follows: "But however when 
•' Elias Keach was with us, we commonly acted 
"as a particular Church, and at the general 
" meetings all the Brethren from all parts of the 
" Provinces, were desired generally to come to- 
gether to hear the word &c and to commu- 
" nicate at the Lord's Table. These general 
" meetings were appointed twice in the year; 
" once in the spring, about the 3d month, 
" [May], and one time in the fall, about the 
"8th month. [October]. In the Spring at Sa- 
"lem and in the fall at Dublin or Burlington. 
" But it is to be noted that in these times of be- 
" ginning, we had not opportunity to be formed 
" into particular Churches, for want of persons 
" fitly qualified to oversee a Church or to carry 
" on the work of the ministry." 

It would seem that at these General Meetings, 
even when held out of Pennsylvania, ordinary 
Church business was transacted, for, at Salem, 
New Jersey, in May, 1088, Joseph Ashton was 
chosen a Deacon of the Church at Pennepek, 
and was ordained there, by Elias Keach, with 
laying on of hands. 

Mr. Edwards remarks, " They were all one 
" Church and Pennepek the centre of union, 
" where as many as could, met to celebrate the 
" memorials of Christ's death ; and for the sake 
"of distant members, they administered the or- 
" dinancc quarterly at Burlington, Cohansey, 



8 



" Salem and Philadelphia ; which quarterly 
"meetings have since transformed into three 
"yearly meetings and an Association."* 

As the number of baptized believers increased 
in places at a distance from. Pennepek, it was 
considered best to form separate Churches ; and, 
hence, in New Jersey, the following were consti- 
tuted, viz: Middletown, in the Winter of 1G88; 
Piscataqua, in the Spring of 1689; and Cohan- 
sey,in the Spring of 1G90; while, in the City of 
Philadelphia, no attempt was made by the few 
Baptists there, to form a Church until the second 
Sunday in December, in 1698, when four per- 
sons who had been baptized, in 1697, by John 
Watts, and five others — among them t he famous 
John Holme, Esq. — who had been baptized in 
Great Britain, met in a house on Barbadoes Lot, 
at the North-west corner of Second and Chest- 
nut-streets, and, in the words of Edwards, 
" did coalesce into a Church for the cominun- 
" ion of Saints, having Rev. John Watts to their 
" assistance. 1 ' 

It seems, however, from the Pennepek Church 
Book, that in the Spring of 1G88, Elias Keach 
held several meetings and preached several ser- 
mons in Philadelphia; but as no mention is 
made of his having baptized, it is reasonable 
to suppose that the first baptism was by John 
Watts. 

As Elias Keach was at fust the only Baptist 
Minister in Pennsylvania, the brethren at Pen- 
nepek were often left without any preacher, as 
Mr. Keach was compelled to visit the numerous 
branches of the Church, in Pennsylvania and 
New .Jersey. In such emergencies, the Church 
held meetings for prayer and exhortation, then, 

* History of Americau Baptist?, i, 8. 



as now, called " meetings for eonference. ,, Orig- 
inating as they did in Pennsylvania with the 
Church at Pennepek, it may not be uninterest- 
ing to give the following account of their com- 
mencement, as detailed in the Church Records, 
viz : — " About the same time, that every Brother 
" might have opportunity to exercise what Gilts 
"God had been pleased to bestow upon them, 
"for the edification of one another, with the ad- 
" vice and consent of our said pastor, we ap- 
pointed meetings for Conference, to beheld 
" on the fifth days of the week in which this or- 
"der was observed. First, That at one meeting, 
" sometimes one Brother and then another and 
" so round, used to make choice of some place 
" of holy scripture as they pleased, to be con- 
" ferred upon the next time, which in the mean- 
" while was lelt to consideration. Secondly, 
" When the appointed time came, the Brethren 
"being assembled, the usual custom observed 
" was, for one Brother and then another to be- 
" gin with prayer and then to deliver their 
"judgment on the text appointed and our Pas- 
" tor concluded. The Brethren who used most 
" commonly and constantly to speak at these 
" meetings were Samuel Jones and John 
" Watts." 

These exercises had the effect to bring forward 
such brethren as possessed gifts for prayer and 
exhortation, and to them the Church was accus- 
tomed to look for assistance, when Mr. Keach 
was absent, which, as stated, was often the case. 
On one occasion during his absence, the Church 
formally agreed that John Watts should admin- 
ister the ordinance of baptism, which he ac- 
cordingly did ; but the candidate was not re- 
ceived into the Church, and soon after she be- 
came a Quaker. The administration of the 
3 



10 



Lord's Supper was however left to Mr. Keach, 
as his proper work. 

In the year 1G89, difficulties haying occurred 
about Laying on of hands in the reception of. 
members after baptism, Predestination, and 
other matters, the pastorate of Mr. Keach was 
brought to a close; and John AVatts was chosen 
in his stead, being assisted by Samuel Jones, 
Evan Morgan and Thomas Wood, thus follow- 
ing, as will be observed, the custom which 
obtained in the apostolic times. 

It seemed to be a common event, in those days 
of primitive simplicity, to have in the Pennepek 
Church, a number of gifted brethren on trial, so 
that the Church was seldom at a loss for a Pas- 
tor. Meetings in the week were also regularly 
kept up ; and these "gifted brethren'' were ac- 
customed to officiate on such occasions. 

Thus this little baud of disciples continued 
to prosper; and, in the year 1700, their number, 
had increased to forty-six. 

Among them, as in Churches at the present day, 
were some troublesome and perverse spirits, tinc- 
tured with peculiar views about Gospel truth. The 
chief one at Pennepek, was a certain William 
Davis, who at first was a Quaker preacher, then 
a Keithian, and finally a Baptist. lie held <S/- 
hellian views, which he endeavored to inculcate; 
but the Church, after several admonitions, were 
compelled to exclude him. He afterwards be- 
came a Seventh-day Baptist. To counteract the 
errors of Davis, and also other heresies, and to 
instruct the children of the members in the true 
Faith, John Watts was requested by the Church 
to prepare a Catechism, "such a one as might 
"also be of use for a Confession of our faith." 
This he did, and it was published in the year 
1700. 



11 



The Church, at first, was wont to meet at the 
houses of different members ; but, about the year 

I ?(>7, a house of worship was erected on a lot 
near the Burial-ground, the gift of Samuel 
Jones, one of the early I'astors. In subse- 
quent years, additional land was presented to 
the Church, and some was bought, so that now 
there is a line glebe attached to the building, on 
which sheds are erected lor the accommodation 
of those driving to Church. There is also a 
grove of noble oak-trees, affording delightful 
shade in Summer. The Meeting-house is situ- 
ated in the enclosure devoted to the Burial- 
ground; and is separated from the grove by u 
public road. 

The first Meeting-house was twenty-five feet 
square; but, in 1760, it was repaired, and, in 1770, 
there was a neat stone building erected, thirty- 
three feet by thirty, with pews, galleries, and a 
stove, which latter accommodation was not to 
be found in all the early Meeting-houses. The 
present edifice was built in 1805. 

The Faith of this ancient Church has always 
been that of the New Testament, as set forth in 
the " Philadelphia Confession,'' which was adop- 
ted by the Association, in 1742. 

For some years, the ancient rite of Confirma- 
tion, or the Laying on of hands on newly bap- 
tized members, on being received into the Church, 
was practised ; but it w r as afterwards regarded 
as a matter of indifference, and hence was dis- 
continued. This question of "Laying on of 
"hands" occasioned sharp disputes between 
them and a Welsh emigrant Church, which 
came from Wales, in 1701, and settled near Pen- 
nepek. The Welshmen insisted on the rite as 
of great importance ; but finding they were op- 
posed, in 1703, the major part of them purchased 



12 



a tract of land in Newcastle-county, Delaware, 
whither they removed and settled — and named 
the place " Welsh Tract." The Church assumed 
the name, and is still known as u The Welsh 
"Tract Baptist Church." 

Pennepek Church also had, for many years, 
Ruling Elders — a species of officers which most 
of the early Baptist Churches of Pennsylva- 
nia, New Jersey, and Delaware had among them, 
as the early records show. 

The Minutes of the Church contain the follow- 
ing action on the subject of Ruling Elders : 

" 1715. June 19th. A proposal was made for 
"having Puling Elders in y Church; left to 
"consideration till next Quarterly Meeting." 

" 1726. June 17th. At same time y 8 Church 
" called forth brother John Holme to take upon 
" him the office of a ruling elder, to which he 
"answered he thought himself not fitly qualified 
"for a place of charge and weight y 1 y 1 place 
" did require." 

"1747. June 18. Bro. Vansandt was called 
" to the office of Puling Elder by prayer and 
"laying on of hands." 

When this office was discontinued does not 
appear ; but it is certain that it was not used in 
1770. The latest mention of such is in a manu- 
script List of Members, for 1763, when William 
Marshall is named as the Ruling Elder. 

As a mother Church, numerous branches have 
sprung from Pennepek, and maintain, even to the 
present day, in their ecclesiastical relations, an 
active and prominent position. Among these 
were those of Middletown, Piscataqua, Co- 
hanscy, Burlington, and Salem, in New Jer- 
sey; and Philadelphia, Montgomery, South- 
ampton, Brandywine, Frankford, ami Holmes- 
burg, in Pennsylvania. 



13 



As is well-known. The Philadelphia Baptist 
Association originated under the auspices of 
this Church; and to its Records we arc chiefly 
indebted for a knowledge <>f the date of the or- 
ganization nt" the Association. The "Yearly 
•• Meetings," which were held with the different 
Churches, were chiefly for preaching — answering 
to the "protracted meetings" or "convoca- 
" tions" of the present day. They did not con- 
sist of Delegates or Messengers from particu- 
lar Churches, hut all who had Leisure and were 
so inclined gathered together and spent several 
days in acts of religious worship. The brethren 
were thus made acquainted with each other; 
the spirit of piety was increased; the ungodly 
were often converted; and fraternal intercourse 
was greatly promoted. As the Churches in- 
creased in number, and also in membership, 
various questions arose both as to matters of 
Faith and Discipline. It was of course desirable 
for all the Churches to have the same Pules and 
to act in unity; and yet each Baptist Church be- 
ing independent of all others, it was apparent 
to the Pastors and Brethren, that some general 
meeting was necessary where such questions 
could be freely and amicably discussed, and 
where counsel and advice could be given. 
Hence, it was proposed to associate, once a year, 
for this purpose, by representatives from the sev- 
eral Churches. This annual meeting was there- 
fore designated by the name of an " Association ;" 
but it bad no power or authority to bind the 
Churches composing it, and from the very first 
was regarded as an Advisory Council — and such 
is the character of all the Baptist Associations 
in America, as well as in all other parts of the 
world. 

The Church Records of Pennepek contain 



14 



the following items concerning the formation 
of the Philadelphia Association, which are 
deemed of sufficient importance to form part 
of this sketch. 

" 170G. At our yearly meeting held at Phila- 
"delphiathe 81, "J2 and 23d days of September, 
"it was agreed by our brethren fromMiddleton, 
" in East Jersey and us, that there should be a 
"meeting held yearly for as many of us as could 
" meet those with them a( Middlcton, with them 
" that could come there from other parts, to be 
" held on the third Lord's day in May." 

" 1707. Before our general] meeting held at 
"Philadelphia in the 7"' month [September] 
" 1707, it was concluded by the severall congre- 
gations of our Judgment, to make choyse of 
" some particular Brethren such as they thought 
" most capable in every congregation & those 
"to meet at the yearly Meeting, to consult about 
"such things as were wanting in the Church 
"and set them in order, and those brethren met 
"at the said yearly meeting which begun the 
"27 th of the 7 th month, on the 7 th day of the 
"week, agreed that the said meeting should 
" be continued till the third day of the week, 
"in the work of the publiek ministry and by 
"whom the publiek ministry of the word should 
" be carried on." 

The Churches thus uniting in an Association 
— the first formed in America — were the Penne- 
pel; in Pennsylvania, the Welsh Tract, in Dela- 
ware, the Middletovm, Piseataquct and Gohansey 
in New Jersey. 

Prom that day until the present time, the 
Pennepek, or Lower Dublin, Church has been a 
member of the Philadelphia Association, except 
during a period of fourteen years. Altera con- 
nection of one hundred and twenty years, on 



15 



the twenty-ninth of October, 1827, she withdrew 
from the Association, and for five years remained 
unassociated ; but, in 1832, she formed one of the 
constituents of The '-Central Union Association," 
which was organized in the First Baptist Church 
of Philadelphia, on the thirty-first of July, in 
that year. On the fourth of October, 1841, she 
withdrew from that body and united again with 
the Philadelphia Association, and is at the pres- 
ent time, the only one of the original Churches 
connected with the Association. 

The increase in membership by baptism was 
at first very gradual. Prior to the year 1800, 
the highest number baptized in one year, judg- 
ing from the records, was six. 

From 1798 to 1804 — a period of six years — 
there were no baptisms, but the services of the 
sanctuary were faithfully kept up under the pas- 
toral care of Dr. Samuel Jones. In the latter 
year, a glorious work of grace manifested itself 
and a revival commenced, continuing until the 
venerable man of God was removed from the 
Church militant to the Church triumphant. In 
1804, twenty-two were baptized; in 1805, twen- 
ty-four ; in 1806, ten; in 1807, seventeen ; in 
1808, twenty-five ; and in 1812, seventeen. This 
precious ingathering of souls seemed a fitting 
close to the faithful and laborious pastorate of 
over half a century. 

The whole number baptized from 1762, when 
the Minutes begin to give the numbers, to 1800, 
a period of thirty-eight years, was sixty-three ; 
and the membership had increased from fifty to 
seventy-five ; while during the next thirteen 
years, the number baptized was one hundred 
and twenty-eight, and the membership had in- 
creased to one hundred and twenty eight. The 
largest number baptized in any one year was 



10 



ninety, in 1850, during the pastorate of Rev. 
Richard Lewis; and the next largest number 
was seventy-eight, during the pastorate of Rev. 
Alfred Harris. The greatest number received 
during any one pastorate was one hundred and 
fifty-six, during the seven years' pastorate of the 
Rev. James M. Challiss. 

The total number baptized into the fellowship 
of this Church cannot be ascertained, but it 
must be over eleven hundred. Of these, seven- 
teen were baptized by Elias Reach ; twenty- 
seven by John Watts ; twenty-nine by Abel Mor- 
gan; ninety-two by Jenkin Jones; one hundred 
and thirty-eight by Dr. Samuel Jones; twenty- 
eight by Jacob Gregg; one hundred and twen- 
ty-eight by David Jones, Jr. ; one hundred and 
fifty-six by James M. Challiss; one hundred and 
twelve by Richard Lewis; and eighty-nine by 
Alfred Harris. 

The present Pastor (Rev. William E. Cornwell) 
has baptized about seventy persons. 

It will thus be seen that this ancient Church, 
during the present century, has experienced ;ni 
almost continuous experience of the Divine 
favor. 

During her long existence as a visible Church, 
she has had but nineteen Pastors, and in her 
earlier history, she had two or three Ministers 
at the same time, who labored together in word 
and doctrine as occasion offered. This arose 
from the fact that the "gifted brethren " were 
brought forward at the "Conference meetings.' 1 
John Watts, Evan Morgan, Samuel Jones and 
Joseph Wood, were four brethren whose "gifts" 
were thus exercised, and who were ordained 
to the work of the ministry, and in turn were 
the Pastors of the Church. Light of her Pas- 
tors were native born Welshmen ; and. for many 



17 



years, Pennepek was the point to which the 
Welsh emigrants were accustomed to direct 
their steps, on their arrival in America. 

As a ( 'lunch, she has done much for the cause 
of Education ; and one of her Pastors, the Rev. 
Samuel Jones, D.D., for many years kept a pri- 
vate school where young men were taught Theo- 
logy. The name of Pennepek, or Lower Dublin, 
was known throughout the length and breadth 
of the land as the focus of Baptist influence. 
Twenty-two persons have been sent forth by this 
Church to preach the Gospel. The present mem- 
bership of the Church is over two hundred and 
fifty. There are now in Philadelphia, forty Bap- 
tist Churches, with about fourteen thousand 
members, and in the entire State of Pennsylva- 
nia there are four hundred and fifty Churches, 
with fifty thousand, four hundred, and ninety- 
seven communicant members. 



18 



II.— BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE PAS- 
TORS OF THE LOWER DUBLIN BAPTIST 
CHURCH. 

I. — The founder and first Pastor was the Kiev. 
EiiiAS Kjeach. Be was bom in Southwark, 
London, in tlie year 1000; and was the son of 
the famous BENJAMIN Ki:.\< n. Pastor of the 
Baptist Church, in Horsely-down. Of his earl; 
education we have no information, but it was 
no doubt liberal, as his father was a learned 
man. Like many young men of that day, Elias 
started off to see the world; and, in 1686, lie ar- 
rived at Philadelphia, which had been found- 
ed four years. He was a wild, giddy fellow, 
and passed himself off for a Minister, dressing 
in black and wearing a band. Morgan Ed- 
wards, who relates the story, says thai the pro- 
ject succeeded ; and ma*iy people resorted to 
hear the young London Divine. In the middle 
of his sermon he suddenly stopped, as if at- 
tacked with illness ; and, upon inquiry by the 
audience, he hurst into tears and confessed with 
trembling that he was an imposter. Prom that 
hour he dated his conversion ; and learning thai 
there was a Baptist Minister at Cold Spring, in 
Bucks-county, named Thomas Dungan, he at 
once repaired to him for counsel ami advice, 
and in due time was baptized by him. 

Thefollowing year, we find himat Pennepek: 
and, in January, Kiss, he was one of the constil 
uents of the Pennepek Church, becoming its 
Pastor, and continuing in that relation until 
1689, when the pastoral relation was dissolved. 
He travelled extensively in Jersey and Pennsyl- 
vania, preaching the Gospel, until 1692, when 



19 



he returned to England, and was not only a 
popular, hut a very useful, Minister.' He became 
Pastor of a Church, which he was instrumental 
in gathering, in Ayles-street, Goodman's fields, 

London, in April, L693 ; and so successful was 
he, that in February, 1094, he wrote to Rev. 
John Watts, that in nine months he had baptized 
about one hundred and thirty persons, lie re- 
mained <hc Pastor of that Church until the twen- 
ty-seveuth of October,1699,when he died, after a 
brief illness, in the thirty-fourth year of his age. 
His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Na- 
thaniel Wyles, and is entitled, Death's Arrest, 
the Saint's Release. 

Mr. Reach wrote and published several works. 
First: Four Sermons preached prior to 1694, in 
Pinner's Hall. Second: A Confession of Faith, 
Church Covenant, Discipline, &C. Third: Two 
Sermons on The Nature and Excellency of the 
Grace of Patience. 

While in Pennsylvania, Mr. Keach married 
Mary Moore, a daughter of the Hon. Nicholas 
Moore, who was Chief-justice of Pennsylvania, 
and after whom the Manor of Moreland was 
named, lie being the owner of that tract of land. 
They had an only daughter, Hannah, who mar- 
ried Revitt Harrison, of England, and had a son, 
John Elias Keach Harrison, who came to Amer- 
ica about the year 1734, and lived at llatbor- 
OUgh, and was a member of the Baptist Church 
of Southampton, in Bucks-county, Pennsyl- 
vania. 

The widow of Judge Moore subsequently be- 
came the wife of John Holme, Esq., then of 
Philadelphia, but afterwards of Salem, N. J. 

II. — Rev. John Watts, the second Pastor, was 
born on the third of November, 1661, at Lydd 
or Leeds, in the County of Kent, England, and 



came to America about the year 1686. He was 
baptized at Penncpek, on the twenty-first of No- 
vember, 1687, by Mr. Keaeli ; and was one of the 
first four converts at that place, and a constitu- 
ent of the Church. He earl; gave evidence 
of decided talents; and tin • same year the Church 
was organized, he was called to the ministry. 
His labors proved so acceptable, that when Mr. 
Keach resigned, Mr. Watts was chosen Pastor. 
He was assisted in his duties by Messrs. Evan 
Morgan, Samuel Jones, and Joseph "Wood — the 
latter brethren officiating when Mr. Watts was 
called to other places, 

Mr. Watts was a sound Divine, and a man of 
some learning. He wrote a book, called Davis 
Disabled, in reply to the heresies of a person 
named William Davis, who had been a member 
of Penncpek. This work was never printed. 
He also wrote a Catechism and Confession of 
Faith, which was printed in 1700. 

The pastorate of Mr. Watts continued from 
the tenth of December, 1690, to the twenty-sev- 
enth of August. 1702, when he died, in the for- 
ty-first year of his age. He was buried in the 
grave-yard in the rear of the Meeting-house; and 
his tombstone has on it the following acrostieal 
inscription : 

" Intered here I be 

" O that you could now Bee, 

" How unto Jesus for to flee 

" Not in sin still to be. 

" Warning in time pray take 

" And peace by Jesus make 

" Then at the last when you awake 

"Sure on his right hand you'l partake." 

III.— The Rev. Evan Morgan, the third Pas- 
tor, was born in Wales, and came to America 
at an early period. He was a Quaker, hut left 
with George Keith's party, in 1691. He was 
baptized, in 1697, by Thomas Rutter, aKeithian 



21 



Baptist Minister, at Southampton, Bucks-coun- 
ty ; and, the same year, renouncing his Quaker- 
ism, he was received into Pennepek. He was 
called to the ministry in 1702, and was or- 
dained, on the twenty-third of October, I706,by 
Rev. Thomas Killingworth and Rev. Thomas 
Griffiths. 

Mr. Morgan died <>n the sixteenth of Febru- 
ary, 1709, and was buried at Pennepek. He was 
a smart, intelligent man. 

IV. — The Rev. Samuel Junks, the fourth 
Pastor, was born on the ninth of July, 1657, in 
the parish ofLlanddwi, and County of Radnor, 
Wales, and came to America about 1686. He was 
baptized, in Wales, in the year His:;, by Henry 
Gregory, of Radnorshire ; and was a constituent 
of the Pennepek Church. He was called to the 
ministry in 1697; and was ordained on the 
twenty-third of October, 170(5, at the same time 
Evan Morgan was, with whom he had joint 
charge of the Church. 

Mr. J ones died on the third of February, 1722 ; 
and is buried at Pennepek. 

The ground on which the Meetingdtouse 
stands was given by him; and he also gave 
to the Church a number of valuable books. 

V.— The Rev. Joseph Wood, the fifth Pas- 
tor, was born in 1659, near Hull, in Yorkshire, 
England, and came to America about the year 
1i;s4. He was baptized by Mr. Reach, at Bur- 
lington, New Jersey, on the twenty-fourth of 
June, 1691, and was ordained on the twenty-fifth 
of September, 1708, at which time he assisted 
Messrs. Morgan and Jones in the ministry. He 
died on the fifteenth of September, 1747, and 
was buried at Cold Spring, Bucks-county. 

VI.— The Rev. Abel Morgan, the sixth Pas- 



22 



tor, was l>orn in the year 1673, at Alltgoch, in 
the parish of Llanwenog, Cardiganshire, South 
Wales, and entered on the ministry in the year 
1692. He commenced preaching at the age <>t' 
nineteen; and was ordained at Blaenegvrent, in 
Monmouthshire. Enoch Morgan, the third Pas- 
tor of the Welch TractChurch, was his younger 
brother; and Benjamin Griffith, of Montgom- 
ery, was his half brother. They were all de- 
scended from Morgan A.p Ryddarch. 

He came to America in 1711, reaching Phila- 
delpia on the fourteenth of February, and was 
called lo the care of Pennepek Church, preach- 
ing alternately there and at Philadelphia, with 
great acceptance. 

In addition to his duties as a Minister, he 
gave himself to the work of an author; and pre- 
pared, in the Welch Language, A Concordance of 
the Hoi n Scriptures, lie did not, however, live to 
see it published; but it was printed in I ?:!(>. 
and contains an Introduction by his brother, 
Enoch. Mr. Morgan also prepared a Welsh 
Confession of Faith, which was published. He 
died on the sixteenth of December, 1722, at the 
age of forty-nine years. I lis remains are interred 
now in the lot of the First Baptist Church of 
Philadelphia, in Mount Moriah Cemetery. 

VII. — The Rev. Jknkin Jones, the seventh 
Pastor, was born about the year 1080, in the 
Parish of Llandydoch, Pembrokeshire, Wales, 
and came to America in 1710. He became Pastor 
of the. Pennepek Church, on the seventeenth of 
June 1720 ; but resided in Philadelphia, and offi- 
ciated for the Church there, which was styled a 
branch of Pennepek. He hail William Kinners- 
lev as one of his assistants, and also Joseph 
Wood, who aided as well as he could. Mr. 
Kinnerslcy was born near Leominster, in Here- 



23 



fordshire, England, in 1000 ; and came to Amer- 
ica, mi the twelfth of September, 1714. He was 
never ordained. He died on the thirteenth of 
February, 1734 ; and is buried at Pennepek. His 
son, Ebenezer Kinnehsley, was baptized at 
Pennepek, and became a Minister; but was more 
distinguished as a Professor in the College of 
Philadelphia, and for his attainments as a phi 
losopher, having made, in connection with Dr. 
Franklin, many important discoveries in Elec- 
tricity. 

Mr. Jones continued to be Pastor until the 
third of May, 1740, when he was dismissed to be- 
come one of the constituents of the Philadel- 
phia Church, which was organized on the fif- 
teenth of May, 1740. He became their first 
Pastor after their separate organization, and 
continued such until the sixteenth of July 1700, 
when he died at the age of sixty years. His re- 
mains now repose in the Mount Moriah Cemetery. 
lie was a man of considerable abilities, and was 
the chief cause of having the law T of Pennsylvan- 
ia altered so as to enable dissenting Ministers to 
perform the marriage ceremony. He was, be- 
sides, a generous man, leaving to the Church a 
legacy towards buying a silver cup for the 
Lord's table; and having also, partly at his own 
cost, built a Parsonage-house. 

VIII. — The Re v.Peter Peterson Vanhorne, 
t he eighth Pastor, was born on the twenty-fourth 
of August, 171!), at Middletown, Bucks-county, 
Pennsylvania; and was bred a Lutheran. Hav- 
ing embraced the principles of the Baptists, 
he w as baptized on the sixth of September, 1741 ; 
and having been called to the ministry, he was 
ordained, on the eighteenth of June, 1747. He 
became Pastor, on the thirty-first of October, 
1747 : and continued to labor with acceptance 



24 



until the seventh of February, 1762, when lie 
resgned; and on the twenty-third of June, 
1764, he formed one of the constituent mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church at New Mills, 
now Pemberton, in Burlington-county, New 
Jersey; and became Its first Pastor, lie contin- 
ued such until the second of April, 1768, when lie 
resigned, and returned to Lower Dublin, Penn- 
sylvania. On the seventh of April, 1770, lie was 
chosen Pastor of the Cape .May-church, but re- 
signed in 1775. 

In the year 1785, he became Pastor of the Sa- 
lem Church, Salem-county, New Jersey : and 
continued in the pastorate until the tenth 
of September, 1789, when he died in the seven- 
ty-first year of his age. 

IX. — The Rev. SAMUEL Jonks, P.P., the ninth 
Pastor, was horn at Cel'en y Celli, Bettus Parish, 
Glamorganshire, South Wales, on the four- 
teenth of January, 1735, and was brought to 
America by his parents, in 1737. 

His father, Rev. Thomas Jones, was ordained, 
in 1740, as Pastor of the Church at Tulpehock- 
en, Pennsylvania. Samuel received a liberal 
education at the College of Philadelphia; and ob- 
tained the Master's Decree, on the eighteenth of 
May, 1762. He at once gave himself to the work 
of the ministry; and on the eighth of January. 
1703, he was ordained at the College Hall, at the 
instance of the First Baptist Church of Phila- 
delphia, of which he was a member. The same 
year, he became Pastor of the muted Churches 
of Pennepek and Southampton ; hut, in 1770, he 
resigned the care of the latter and devoted him- 
self entirely to Pennepek ; and continued to oc- 
cupy that position until his death — a period al- 
together of fifty-one years. 

Dr. Jones was deservedly honored and es- 




AMTD"]SIL cJ@K"SS 9 ®« 






35 



teemed by all the Churches of our faith in the 
country. His learning gave him a prominent 
position : and his counsel was sought, not only in 
the Association, but elsewhere. When Rhode 
Island College was projected, he repaired to 
Newport and aided in the preparation of the 
Charter; and when Dr. Manning died, the Presi- 
dency of the College was offered to him; but he 
declined it. With the work of the ministry he 
connected that of a teacher of young men in 
Theology; and was equally distinguished in 
both capacities. His Academy was located on 
his farm, near the Church ; and he sent forth 
many young men who became distinguished 
preachers of the Gospel. 

Dr. Jones was the author of several small 
works; but, besides his Circular Letters, none 
were printed, except a Sermon, called The Doc- 
trine of t\\e Covenant, preached in 178:5; A Cen- 
tury Sermon, preached in October, 1807, before 
the Association ; and a small handbill, on Lay- 
ing on of hands, which was replied to by Rev. 
David Jones, of the (Treat Valley Church. 

Dr. Jones was honored with degrees from sev- 
eral Colleges. In 17(35), Rhode Island College 
conferred upon him the degree of Master ol 
Arts; and, in 1788, the University of Pennsyl- 
vania that of Doctor of Divinity. 

He died at Lower Dublin, on the seventh of 
February, 1814, in the eightieth year of his age, 
and was buried in the rear of the Church. 

X. — Jacob Onion, the tenth Pastor, was born 
in England, and came to America in the early 
part of the present century. When very young, 
he professed religion, united with a Baptist 
Church in England, and commenced to preach. 
Soon after, he entered the Bristol Academy and 
there prosecuted a limited course of study ; and 
5 



26 



left to accept an appointment, as a Missionary 
to Sierra Leone, Africa ; but soon afterwards 
resigned and settled in America. 

He first preached at Norfolk, Virginia, and 
at Portsmouth, and Upper Bridge. In a few- 
years, lie removed to Kentucky and became Pas- 
tor of a Church ; but he soon left and went to 
Ohio. In 1808 or 1809, he returned to Virginia 
and opened a school in Richmond ; and 
preached either in the vicinity of that city or 
lor the First Church. 

In December, 1815, he became Pastor of tin- 
Lower Dublin Church, and continued such un- 
til the first of September, 1817. He then, for about 
eighteen months, was Pastor of the new Mar- 
ket-street Church, in Philadelphia; Subsequent- 
ly, he returned to Virginia ; and was employed 
either in teaching or preaching as an it- 
inerant. He died in Sussex-county, Virginia, 
after a few days' illness, in 1836. He possessed 
extraordinary powers of mind, and a most tena- 
cious memory. As an evidence of the reten- 
tiveness of his memory, it is said that while on 
the ocean, after leaving his native land, he com- 
mitted to memory the Old and New Testaments 
and the whole of Watts' Psalms. 

XI. — The Rev. Josnu.\ P. Slack, the eleventh 
Pastor, became such, on the first of September, 
1817, and remained until October, 1821. He was 
a student at Dr. Staughton's Theological School, 
in Philadelphia. He died at Cincinnati, Ohio, 
on the nineteenth of August, 1822. Nothing of 
his early history is known. 

In the private Diary of Rev. David Jones, his 
successor, there is the following reference to his 
death, under date of the first of September, 1822: 
"This morning, after service, 1 announced to 
"the people the unwelcome intelligence of 



27 

'•tin' decease of Brother Joshua P. Slack, my 
"predecessor in the ministry here, ft was a 
•• greal Btroke to them generally, as they had not 

heard anything of his sickness. He died at 

Cincinnati, Ohio, on the nineteenth of Au- 
"gust." 

XII.— The Rev. David Jones, Jb., the twelfth 
Pastor, was born at Brachodnant, in the Par- 
isli of Llanbrynmair, Montgomeryshire, North 
Wales, April, 1785 ; and, in 1803, came to Ame- 
rica. In early life, he lost both parents, and was 
placed under the care of aunts, whose indul- 
gence had well nigh proved his ruin. He first 
settled on the Big Miami River, Ohio, being in 
the employ of a Mr. Hughes, who had brought 
him to America. He was then aPaedo-baptist ; 
but removing to Columbus, where there was a 
Baptist Church under the care of Rev. William 
Jones, he became, an attendant there. Thinking 
that lie might be called upon to defend his views, 
lie studied Dr. Lewis's Body of Divinity, in 
Welsh ; but was soon convinced that his sprink- 
ling was not Baptism ; and, ere long, he was bap- 
tized by the Pastor of the Columbia Church. 
Having exercised his gifts, he was soon licensed 
by the^Duck-creek Church; and then he became 
Pastor of the Beaver-creek Church, and at the 
same time taught a small school. In 1810, he 
resigned his pastorate; traveled extensively 
through several States; and, in October, attended 
the Philadelphia Association and visited Lower 
Dublin, the residence of Dr. Samuel Jones, under 
whom he studied Theology; and at the same time 
united with his Church. He then supplied the 
Church at Frankford ; and, in 1813, became its 
Pastor, and so continued until 1814. 

In January, 1814, he was called to the First 

Church, at Newark, New Jersey; and he re- 



28 



mained there t'i^plit years. On the first of Janu- 
ary, 1822, he became Pastor of the Lower Dub- 
lin Church, and sustained that position until his 
death, which took place on the ninth of April, 
1833, at the age of forty-eight years. 

Mr. Jones was the " David" in a small work 
on Baptism, entitled Letters of Devoid and John. 
"John" was the Rev. John L. Dagg, D.D., then 
of Philadelphia, but now of Hopkinsville, Ken- 
tucky. 

Mr. Jones was much beloved wherever known. 

XIII. — The Rev. Jamks Mii.uank Challiss, 
the thirteenth Pastor, was born in Philadelphia, 
on the fourth of January, 1799; was baptized in 
Salem, New Jersey, on the nineteenth of Octo- 
ber, 1817, by Rev. Joseph Sheppard; and was 
licenced on the twenty-fourth of June, 1801, by 
the Salem Church. 

Mr. Challiss was ordained by the Church at 
Upper Freehold, Monmouth county. New Jersey, 
on the seventh of December, 1822; but he had 
been preaching for that Church since June of 
that year. He remained as Pastor until March, 
1838, — a period of about sixteen years. 

Mr. Challiss became Pastor of Lower Dublin, 
on the thirty-first of March, 1838 ; and continued 
there until the first of April, 18-45. He was sub- 
sequently Pastor at Moorestown, New Jersey. 
from April, 1845, to March, 1852 ; and at Cohan- 
sey — one of the constituent Churches of the Phil- 
adelphia Association — from April, 1852, to 
March, 1860. 

He retired from pastoral duties; and after re- 
siding for some years at Bridgeton, New Jersey, 
he died there on the fifteenth of April, 1868, 
aged sixty-nine years. 

XIV.— The Rev. Thomas Roberts, the four- 



29 



teenth Pastor, was born in Denbighshire, North 
Wales, on the tenth of June, 1788; came to 
America in October, 1^0:!; and settled in the 
State <>f New York. Be was baptized by Rev. 
John Stevens, on the ninth of March, 1806 ; and 
by invitation of Rev. Dr. David Jones, Pastor 
of the Great Valley Church, Mr. Roberts became 
co-pastor with him, and was there ordained, in 
1815, by Rev. Dr. Staughton and Rev. Messrs. 
David and Horatio G. Jones. 

When the Mission to the Cherokee Indians 
was founded, Mr. Roberts went out as a Mis- 
sionary with Rev. Evan Jones; and upon his re- 
turn, he became Pastor at Lower Dublin, on the 
third of August, 1 840, and so continued until 
the first of April, 1N47. Although in the Minutes 
he is styled " a supply," yet he was in effect 
their Pastor; and was so returned on the Minutes 
of the Association. 

Mr. Roberts was also Pastor of the ancient 
Church at Middletown, New Jersey, lie pub- 
lished a small treatise on Baptism. 

He died at Middletown, on the twenty-fourth 
of September, 1805, aged eighty-two years. 

XV.— The Rev. Riciiakd Lewis, M.D., the fif- 
teenth Pastor, was born on the twenty-fifth of 

July, 1817, at Llanidoles, North Wales, but left 
that place when very young. He was baptized in 
the year 1833, when sixteen years of age, by Rev. 
Cornelius Morrell, Pastor of the Baptist Church 
at Stalyl iridge. The following year lie was called 
to exercise his gifts, and was licensed to preach ; 
and, at the same time, he became Principal of 
a flourishing Seminary. Meanwhile he prosecu- 
ted his studies under Mr. Morrell. 

In June, 1841, Mr. Lewis embarked for Amer- 
ica ; and, on his arrival, spent some time in New 
York, but eventually made Philadelphia his 



30 



abode. In 1842, he became Pastor of the Mount 
Tabor Church, in Philadelphia, where he re- 
mained until 1847. On the twenty-seventh of 
April, 1847, he commenced his pastorate at Lower 
Dublin, but resigned in 1852, and left on the twen- 
ty-fifth of April, in that year. He then labored as 
Pastor of the Church at Holmesburg, until 18(30, 
when he resigned.' 

Mr. Lewis afterwards studied medicine at the 
Pennsylvania, Jefferson, and Homeopathic Me- 
dical Colleges, and graduated at the latter as 
M. D. He now resides at Frankford and prac- 
tices medicine. 

XVI.— The Rev. William Hutchinson, the 
sixteenth Pastor, was born in the town of Druin- 
lample, County of Londonderry, Ireland, in 
1794; and came to America in the year lsli). 

He was baptized at Cazenovia, New York, in 
1820, by Rev. John Peck, and was licensed, 
by the Cazenovia Church, in June, 1821. He 
entered Hamilton Institution, and graduated in 
1824, and was ordained that year at Cazenovia. 
He returned to Ireland, and preached to his 
countrymen under the Patronge of "The Lon- 
"don Baptist Irish Society." In lS'iT, lie again 
came to America ; and, in 1828, became Pastor 
of the Church at Brandon, Vermont, where he 
labored for three years. While at Brandon, hees- 
tablished The Vermont Telegraph, a weekly reli- 
gious newspaper, of which he became its first 
Editor. In 1831, he became Pastor of the Church 
at Amenia, Duchess-county, New York, and 
continued there until 1883, when he removed to 
Fayetteville, Onondaga-county, and officiated 
for about three years as Pastor of the Church in 
that place. In 1836, he went to Oswego, and 
labored as Pastor of that Church, until the fif- 
teenth of December, 1852, when he was chosen 



31 



Pastor of the Lower Dublin Church, and re- 
mained such until December, 1856, when lie re- 
signed. 

XVII. — The Rev. Alfred Harris, the sev- 
enteenth Pastor, was horn in 1829, at Bulch- 
mawr, Pembrokeshire, South Wales; and came 
to America in 1841. He was baptized by his 
father at Remsen, Oneida-county, New York, in 
the Winter of 1842. He was licensed by the 
Remsen Church, of which his father was Pas- 
tor. I ie was educated at a Free Will Baptist 
Institution at Whitesboro', New York; and was 
ordained at the Berean Baptist Church, in the 
town of Marcy, New York, for which Church 
he preached about six years. Mr. Harris Avas 
afterwards called to the charge of the Beakley- 
ville and Upper Mount Bethel Churches in 
Pennsylvania, and remained with them one 
year, when he became Pastor of the Willistown 
Church. After serving that Church for two 
years, he became Pastor of Lower Dublin, on the 
sixteenth of March, 1857 ; and labored with 
much success until March, 1860, when he re- 
signed, and took charge of the Church of Ho- 
bo ken, New Jersey. 

Mr. Harris has contributed numerous articles 
to the Welch Magazines, and is able to preach 
in that language. 

XVIII.— The Rev. George Kempton, D.D., 
the eighteenth Pastor, w T as born on the twenty- 
ninth of August, 1810, in the Parish of St. Tho- 
mas, South Carolina. 

He was baptized in February, 1832, and 
joined the Robertsville Church, by which he 
was licensed, on the twenty-second of December, 
in that same year. 

In January, 1833, lie entered Furmau Theolog- 



32 



ical Institution ; where he remained two years. 
In October, 1835, he entered the Freshman 
Class, of Madison University, then railed Ham- 
ilton Institution, and graduated there in the 
Arts, in August, 1839. In 1840, he was called as 
a supply by the Church at Smyrna, South Caro- 
lina, and while there was ordained; and the 
following year he became Pastor of the Roberts- 
ville Church, where he remained until 1844, 
when he was called to the Spruce-street Church, 
Philadelphia. In 1852, he removed to New 
Brunswick, and became Pastor of the Church 
at that place; and continued there until 1857, 
when hi' was called to the Pastorate of the 
Church at North-east, Duchess-county, New 
York. 

In 1852, the Honorary Degree of Master of 
Arts was conferred upon Mr. Kempton, by the 
University at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania; and in 
1857. he received the Degree of Doctor of Divin- 
ity from Madison University, at Hamilton, New 
York. In October, 18G0, he became Pastor of the 
Low T er Dublin Church. 

Dr. Kempton has preached several sermons 
which have been printed. He resigned the 
charge of the. Church in 1865; and now resides 
at Hainmonton, New Jersey. 

XIX.— The Rev. William E. Coknwkll, the 
nineteenth Pastor, was born in Philadelphia, 

Pennsylvania, on the twenty-fourth of October, 
183G. Be was baptized at Bridgeton, New Jer- 
sey, on the thirteenth of February, 1853 ; and 
commenced to study for the ministry in the 
Spring of 1854; and on the twenty-eighth of July, 
1859, he was graduated at the Theological De- 
partment of the University at Lewisburg, Penn- 
sylvania. 

He was ordained on the twenty-sixth of Octo- 



33 



bef, 1859, at Wbodstowti, New Jersey; and was 
subsequently Pastor of the Church at Canton, 
Salem-county, New Jersey. 

On the eighteenth of March, 1866, he com- 
menced his labors as Pastor of the Lower Dub- 
lin Church, and still continues to hold that hon- 
orable position. During his pastorate lie has 
baptized a large number; and a Mission Chapel 
has been built and dedicated, at Fox Chase, a 
few miles from the parent Church. 

The following tabular statement will give a 
brief summary of the various Pastors, and the 
length of each pastorate: 

Elias Keacii served the Church from Janu- 
ary, 1688, to 1689. 

John Watts, from December 10, 1690, to 
August 27, 1702. 

Evan Morgan, from October 23, 1706, to 
February 16, 1709. 

Samuel Jones, from October 23, 1706, to 
February 3, 1722. 

Joseph Wood, from September 25, 1708, to 
September' 15, 1747. 

Abel Morgan, from February 14, 1711, to 
December 16, 1722. 

Jenkin Jones, from June 17, 1726, to Mav 
:}, 1746. 

Petek Peterson Vaniiorne, from October 
31, 1747, to February 7, 1762. 

Samttel Jones, D.D., from January 1, 1763, 
to February 7, 1814. 

Jacob Grigg, from December, 1815, to Sep- 
tember 1, 1817. 

Joshua P. Slack, from September 1, 1817, to 
October, 1821. 

David Jones, Jr., from January 1, 1822 to 
April 9, 1833. 

6 



James M. Challiss, from March 31, 1838, to 
April 1, 1845. 

Thomas Roberts, from August 3, 1845, to 
April 1, 1847. 

Richard Lewis, from April 27, 1847, to April 
25, 1852. 

William Hutchinson, from Decern her 15, 
1852, to December, 1850. 

Alfked Harris, from March 10, 1857, to 
March, 1860. 

George Kempton, D. D., from October 7, 
18G0, to April 1, 1865. 

AVilliam E. Cornwell, from March 18, 
1866. 



35 



III.—LICENTIA TES. 

The Church, during its long existence, has 
granted liberty or license to preach to the fol- 
lowing persons, many of whom subsequently 
became eminent Ministers of the Gospel, viz : 

John Watts, Evan Morgan, 

Samuel Jones, John Hart, 

Joiin Swift, William Ktnnersley, 

George Eaglesbteld, George Eaton, 

EbENEZER KlNNERSLEY, JOSEPH BULL, 

Peter Eaton, William Vantiorne, 

Peter Smitii, John Pitman, 

Burgiss Allison, John Stanclifp, 

George Guthrie, Charles Bartolette, 

John Boozer, David Bateman, 

Joseph Wright, Charles E. Wilson. 



ZG 



IV.— RULING ELDERS. 

Messrs. John Holme, John Vansandt, and 
William Marshal] were the only persons who 
were chosen to aci as Ruling Elders. 



37 



V.— DEACONS. 
The following poisons have been elected as 
Deacons : 

Samuel Vaus, January, 1G87. 

Joseph Ashton, May, 1G88. 

Samuel Jones and Joseph Wood, October, 
9, 1699. 

Griffith Miles, October 23, 1706. 

John IIaiit, June 1G, 1721. 

Daniel Davles, December, 1721. 

George Eaton, June 17, 1726. 

Alexander Edwards, August 2, 174G. 

Crispin Collett, May 2, 1747. 

Thomas Webster, June G, 1758. 

James Dungakt, and Joseph Engles, March 
30, 1775. 

John Wright, February 3, 1770. 

Benjamin Dungan, March 30, 1782. 

Thomas Holme, August 2, 180G. 

Joseph Wright, October 1, 1814. 

Thomas Miles, 1814. 

John Foster, April 10, 1817. 

Morgan Holme and Thomas Scattergood, 
October 10, 1831. 

John Neville and Jacob W. Ott, August 
5, 1839. 

John Blake and Benjamin M. Dungan, 
February 5, 1844. 

George Snyder and Siiadrach Miles, De- 
cember 25, 1849. 

Franklin Johnson and Samuel Heri- 
tage, April 6, 1867. 



38 



VL— ADDITIONS TO THE CHURCH BT BAP- 
TI8 M ; A X I) T TA L MEMB ESS HIP IN EA C 'II 
YEAR. 

Year. Bap. Total. Year. Bap. Total. Year. Bap. Total. 



1681 


4 


1729 


1 




1 783 


5 


04 


1688 


*> 


L736 


O 
O 




1784 


4 


67 


1091 


4 


1731 


4 




1 785 


4 


69 


1696 


o 


1732 


5 




1788 


2 


69 


1007 


8 


1733 


1 




17S9 


1 


68 


Ki'.is 


o 


1734 


6 




1 790 


1 


07 


1099 


4 


1 735 


5 




1 794 


1 


62 


17(10 


3 40 1730 


1 




1 795 


1 


(il 


1701 


2 


1737 


8 




i rim 


O 


70 


1702 


13 


1738 


9 




1797 


1 


70 


1704 


8 


1740 


17 




1800 




74 


170r> 


4 


1741 


4 




1S01 




75 


1700 





1742 


5 




1802 




73 


1707 


9 


174 3 


4 




1803 




72 


1708 


11 


1740 


Q 




1804 


22 


95 


1709 


12 


1748 


6 




L805 


24 


116 


1710 


24 


1 750 


o 




1806 


10 


124 


1711 


1 


1 753 


o 




isn; 


17 


1 38 


1712 


1 


1755 


4 




1808 


25 


I 55 


1713 


11 


1701 


O 

O 


50 


1809 


6 


158 


1714 


13 137 1703 





58 


1S10 


:! 


100 


1715 


3 


1704 


o 


54 


1811 


4 


162 


1719 


1 


1770 


1 


50 


1 8 1 2 


17 


1 78 


1 720 


5 


1771 


1 


47 


1813 


3 


I 78 


1722 


4 


1772 


5 


5 1 


1S| 1 




170 


1723 


4 


1773 





63 


L815 


q 


163 


1724 


o 


1774 


1 


63 


1816 


11 


15; 


1725 


1 


1770 


5 


69 


1S| J 


14 


109 


1720 


o 


1778 


4 


73 


1818 


5 


172 


1727 


r- 
I 


1781 


o 


58 


1819 


10 


175 


1728 


7 


1782 


3 


59 


1820 


1 


171 



39 

Year. Bap. Total. Year. Bap. Total. Year. Bap. Total. 



1821 


11 


is: J 


1 838 


23 


223 


18.51 


4 


296 


I 822 


10 


1113 


L889 


21 


219 


1855 




283 


1823 


5 


192 


ISIO 


47 


255 


1856 


13 


277 


I 82 1 


3 


191 


1S41 


18 


273 


1857 




267 


l 825 


a 


188 


1842 


3 


260 


1858 


78 


341 


182*6 


2 


140 


L843 


42 


302 


1 859 


8 


352 


L827 


5 


113 


ISM 


o 


299 


1860 


3 


340 


1 828 


8 




1S45 




281 


1861 


9 


339 


1829 


4 




1846 


9 


278 


1802 


1 


316 


1830 


9 




1847 




254 


1863 




311 


1831 


52 




ISIS 


4 


240 


18G4 


1 


295 


1832 


28 


17(5 


is ID 


2 


235 


18G5 




262 


1833 


34 


206 


1850 


90 


321 


I860 


2 


220 


1834 


8 


204 


1851 


10 


325 


1867 


52 


252 


1835 


10 


205 


1852 




305 


1808 


8 


250 


1836 


17 


210 


1853 


5 


299 












.BMy 



